Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Union Calling Inc. pay a total of
$115,000 in penalties for violating Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules
OTTAWA-GATINEAU, October 15, 2013 — Today, the Canadian Radio-television
and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced that the Canadian Union
of Postal Workers has paid a penalty of $50,000 and Union Calling Inc. has
paid a penalty of $65,000 as part of settlements over violations to the
Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.The CRTC’s investigation found that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers
failed to identify itself or provide its contact information in robocalls
made to residents of Ontario. The union hired a company, Union Calling
Inc., to deliver pre-recorded messages between May 21 and June 26, 2013
regarding the possible closure or downsizing of post offices in certain
communities.
“These latest settlements involve taking action against both the companies
who make unsolicited telecommunications and clients of companies who make
unsolicited telecommunications as they are both required to comply with
the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. Canadians expect to know who is
calling them, even when listening to a pre-recorded message. This is an
important element of the rules governing the use of robocalls. We
appreciate the cooperation we received from the Canadian Union of Postal
Workers and Union Calling Inc. during our investigation into this matter,”
said Andrea Rosen, the CRTC’s Chief Compliance and Enforcement Officer.
In addition to paying monetary penalties, parties have agreed to cease
violating the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules and implement
comprehensive compliance programs that will include:
• an acknowledgement of all applicable rules and a commitment to comply
fully with them
•the appointment of a compliance officer to ensure ongoing adherence with
the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules
•an education and training program for employees
•appropriate record keeping, and
•promotion of better awareness of the Unsolicited Telecommunications
Rules.
About robocalls
Automatic Dialing-Announcing Devices (ADADs) are used to dial telephone
numbers and automatically deliver a pre-recorded message. A person or
company using an ADAD to make unsolicited telecommunications where there
is no attempt to solicit, shall comply with certain conditions including:
-such telecommunications are restricted to certain times during the day
-such telecommunications shall begin with a clear message identifying the
person on whose behalf the telecommunication is made. This identification
message shall include a mailing address and a local or toll-free
telecommunications number at which a representative of the originator of
the message can be reached.
-such telecommunications shall display the originating telecommunications
number or an alternate telecommunications number where the
telecommunication originator can be reached (except where the number
display is unavailable for technical reasons).
About the CRTC’s enforcement measures
The CRTC enforces the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/trules-reglest.htm in order to
reduce unwanted calls to Canadians. Under its enforcement process, the
CRTC can discuss corrective actions with individuals, firms or
organizations engaged in telemarketing, which may lead to a settlement
that includes a monetary penalty and other corrective measures. The CRTC
can also issue warnings and citations, conduct inspections and issue
notices of violation.
To date, the CRTC’s efforts have yielded over $3.4 million in penalties,
which are remitted to the Receiver General for Canada, and $741,000 in
payments to post-secondary institutions.
The CRTC
The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises
broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
Notice of violation to Canadian Union of Postal Workers http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/vt130814.htm
Notice of violation to Union Calling Inc. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/vt130925.htm
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